‘Into the Blue: Review

Vince Yim, OP Blue Baller

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Jared (Paul Walker, The Fast and the Furious) and Sam (Jessica Alba, TV’s Dark Angel) are a couple of divers who just want to live the simple life. After meeting up with two other divers, they learn of a sunken treasure. Instead, they find trouble in the form of a cargo plane full of cocaine. Run-ins with the local crime lords, shootings at sea, and shark attacks ensue.

A quick glance at the trailer will reveal a film that probably should have been released during the summer, although watching the film from beginning to end will indicate why not. Add this to the fact that the film was shot over a year and a half ago (end of March 2004), which would have given them plenty of time to release this film since summer of last year, which indicates a severe lack of faith on the part of the studio.

Admittedly, the film does have its charms, in that it is very well paced and edited, plus it has some breath- taking underwater cinematography. Eye-candy shots of Jessica Alba don’t hurt either, which will probably have you wondering how to get a hold of her personal train- er (or her plastic surgeon for that matter). But none of these are enough to get past the pedestrian script, end- less action movie clichés, and the weak, unquotable dia- logue.

Sitting in the director’s chair is John Stockwell, the man behind the moderately successful B/we Crash. As expected, he keeps the film from sinking completely, but is bailing out a lot of water on the way. Despite his best efforts, it can’t rise above the material, nor can the cast, who try their best with what they’re given. To their credit, no one turns in a truly awful performance, although it feels phoned in for the most part. But when you consider the previous films done by the two leads, it’s not like they can do any worse. Maybe no one rises above the material because they simply can’t.

The script comes courtesy of screenwriter Matt

“What’s the best reason to write ul the Other Press? Vince Yim, Print Futures:

For the people and the pleasure of see- ing my name in print.

' Kerry Evans, General Studies: Because they tell you what a good writer you are and it makes you feel really good inside.

J.J. McCullough, (oops, | forgot to ask what major. suggest: Sketching and Organizing):

The Other Press is a great paper that is actually willing to publish a variety of dif- ferent perspectives. Not many college papers would be willing to run a right- wing hack like me.

Johnson, who gave us last year’s critically acclaimed action drama Torque. That alone will tell you everything you need to know. Indeed, the story is a seemingly end- less string of clichés and is predictable from start to fin- ish. By the first reel, you already know who the bad guy is, who will eventually be betraying the group of divers, and who will be shark bait. Any sort of plot twist is seen a mile off, while there simply isn’t enough emo- tional investment to care if someone gets shot or eaten by a shark. But at least you won't be cheering when that happens.

Not a horrible film, but not a particularly good one either. While somewhat watchable, it’s quite forgettable. Destined to fall between the cracks in the week’s major releases (including Serenity, A History of Violence, and Proof}, it’s destined to hit video shelves before long.